By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton says the Woodhorn Lane outfit have showed no fear and have acquitted themselves exceptionally well – as they head into tomorrow’s fourth qualifying round tie of the Emirates FA Cup against Kings Lynn in Norfolk.

Mr Shotton said: “Obviously we will be looking to progress. The club haven’t been in the first round proper since 1961 so that’s our aim but whatever happens I think we have got to be proud of what we have done so far. We are going to a good club who obviously had National League experience recently and who are doing really well to establish themselves in the non league game so I think it is a good test for our lads on the field – and we’ve obviously got to enjoy the day off the field as well.”

He continued: “From the minute where we travelled to Ashton United, we showed no fear and it’s been a case of on the day taking the opposition on and seeing what happens. However, overall we can safely say from the ties we’ve had against teams from higher leagues that we’ve more than acquitted ourselves and to be fair have dominated three of the fixtures. We’ve also shown that we can mix it; it’s the FA Cup and it is all about what happens on the day.”

Ian Skinner’s outfit will be spurred on by two coach loads of supporters: “It was always going to be different given the distance of the trip involved,” added Mr Shotton, “I think if it had been a bit nearer we may have been talking about taking four or five coaches with supporters but that doesn’t deter from the fact that there’s already two making the trip and I know of many people who are travelling down by their own methods. My wife’s family are coming across from Northamptonshire to support us and we’ve also got people from all over the country going to Kings Lynn to back the lads so I think we’ll have a good presence. Hopefully we’ll give a good account of ourselves both on and off the field – and fingers crossed, the lads can top the day off with a positive result.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Rachel McDonald

Ashington FC midfielder Robbie Dale says the club’s away tie in the FA Cup against Kings Lynn on Saturday will be a good test for the players.

Dale said: “I know we beat Bradford Park Avenue who are in the same league as Kings Lynn a couple of rounds ago but the difference will be big on Saturday because Kings Lynn will be a stiffer test and it’ll be a proper game on a pitch which is big and wide. I know the Kings Lynn manager and a couple of the lads who play for them and it’s a good set up down there. They were in the National League last year and like us, they’ll want to get into the first round proper.”

He continued: “We are away from home against one of the top teams in that league but we’ve got a good chance ourselves and it’ll be a good test to see some of our lads and where they are at. It’ll also be a good test for them for where they want to be in the future. If they want to keep climbing up the leagues with Ashington that’s the team (Kings Lynn) we’ll be looking to get close too at some point.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC goalkeeper Karl Dryden believes momentum will be a key factor on Saturday when the Woodhorn Lane outfit head down to Norfolk to face Kings Lynn in their Emirates FA Cup clash.

Dryden was in goal for the Colliers the last time the club reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in the 2011/12 campaign when they went to Cleethorpes to take on Grimsby Town at Blundell Park – but despite a gallant effort, lost 5-0 against the Mariners.

The 34 year old was also between the posts for Dunston UTS four years ago in front of a capacity crowd when they bowed out of the competition against Gateshead in a match which was televised live on the BBC red button.

Understandably, the Stakeford-based stopper would like nothing better than to reach the first round proper on Saturday: “We have played collectively in our last couple of performances,” he said, “I was happy with a clean sheet in the replay against Stocksbridge and everyone put in a performance and gave 100 per cent and as long as we can take that momentum into Saturday, we should be alright.”

He continued: “We’ve been consistent and hopefully it should stand us in good stead. Anything can happen in cup football and as long as we are on our game – which we have been – who knows?” Dryden was happy with the Colliers 2-1 victory against Tow Law last Saturday: “We returned to league action – our bread and butter – and I thought our consistency and momentum showed today (against Tow Law),” he added, “Things weren’t going our way in the first half but we dug in and got the three points.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC midfield general Ben Sampson has insisted that the Colliers will travel down to Norfolk with a positive mindset when they tackle Kings Lynn in their fourth qualifying round clash of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.

Sampson, who was on the score sheet when the Wansbeck outfit won 3-0 in their replay in the previous round against Stocksbridge Park Steels last week, said: “All respect to Kings Lynn because they are flying in their league (National League North) which is three divisions above us. We know it’s going to be a difficult game against them but we’ll be going down there with a positive mindset and I think we can get a result.”

Ashington-born Sampson, who is based in Morpeth, continued: “We’ve got a good side; we can defend well; we’ve beaten three higher level teams in the competition so far and we’ve got to believe that we can go down there and get a result against them – or bring them back up to Ashington for a replay on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile the 23 year old said Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Tow Law in their Ebac Northern League first division match was deserved: “It was hard graft,” he added, “Tow Law were promoted at the end of last season and are a good side. They have got good players who have been around at this level and higher but despite difficult windy conditions, we dominated the ball. I think it was a case for us of ‘job done’ and although it finished 2-1, we could have had a couple more – but it’s another three points on the board.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC central defender Darren Lough acknowledged that the Woodhorn Lane club face their biggest challenge for over a decade on Saturday when they go to Kings Lynn in the Emirates FA Cup – but believes the Colliers can return back home to Wansbeck with a result.

Lough added that his team mates will be buzzing when they make the journey to Norfolk to face a side who are top of the National League North table: “It’s a massive week for the club and the biggest game they’ve had in the FA Cup for a long time since they played Grimsby in the 2011/12 season,” he said, “Some people will say we are the underdogs but with the players and the squad we had got, I quite fancy our chances against them. Why not? In our last three games in the competition, we have played teams who are in higher leagues, have put on a performance and beat them so why shouldn’t we go down there (Kings Lynn) and get something? I wouldn’t say it’s a free shot but it’s a game where the winners will go into the first round proper of the FA Cup when the big gunscome in and if you’re in the hat you never know what might happen. Ashington is the place to be and the lads are buzzing and looking forward to it.”

The 33 year old – a drainage engineer – continued: “It was disappointing that we didn’t land a home draw because after getting a bumper crowd on Tuesday night for the replay against Stocksbridge, if we had got a tie at Woodhorn Lane on a Saturday it probably would have been a sell out and brought good revenue into the club. We are more of an underdog going down to Kings Lynn but we can upset anybody – and I’ve got confidence in the lads that we can do that.”

Ashington-born Lough who is based in Morpeth, also touched on the ‘great atmosphere’ which the players experienced in their replay win over Stocksbridge when an attendance of 1,424 set a new record at Woodhorn Lane: “It was a huge game last Tuesday,” he added, “It was lashing down with rain but people still came out in their hundreds to support us and they generated a great atmosphere. The lads would love a turn out like that for every week because they enjoy playing in front of big crowds – so the more the merrier.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC’s Luke Salmon has now scored in consecutive league matches – and the left sided defender or wing back is naturally delighted.

After being on target in the away match at Penrith, Salmon once again showed whole hearted commitment as he met a pinpoint cross from the right by Yannick Aziakonou to bullet home a header in Saturday’s Ebac Northern League first division encounter against Tow Law at Woodhorn Lane which the Wansbeck outfit won 2-1.

Salmon’s goal came five minutes before half time and was the equaliser after Andrei-Vasile Ardelean had given the Lawyers a shock lead on the half hour. An 82^nd minute penalty converted by home skipper Ben Harmison wrapped up the points for Ian Skinner’s side.

The 31 year old said later: “The goal which brought us level made us feel more comfortable and Yannick (Aziakonou) has put a superb ball in. To be honest, it (the ball) came from nowhere and I wasn’t expecting it. Yannick ended up upside down whilst I was at the back post and the ball was just right for me to dive and head it in.”

North Shields-based Salmon continued: “Unfortunately for Jordan Summerly, he took ill during the week and I’ve stepped in but the same thing happened to me at the beginning of the season because I was on holiday and missed the first three games. We have a big squad here so when you come into the side you want to try and keep hold of the shirt. I’m happy to be in the team – and I’m happy with my form.”

Casting an eye towards Saturday’s fourth qualifying round tie in the Emirates FA Cup away to Kings Lynn, Salmon – a teacher – said: “We’ll go into the clash with confidence. We’ve been underdogs three times (against Ashton United, Bradford Park Avenue and Stocksbridge Park Steels) but we’ve gone into each game thinking – and believing – that we could win. I know they (Kings Lynn) are top of their league but we are also flying and we’ve got a class team so anything can happen.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner spoke at the weekend of his to Ebac Northern League outfit Heaton Stannington – and the ENL – after the Colliers clash at Grounsell Park scheduled for Wednesday (October 12) was postponed by mutual consent.

The reason behind the move was to give the Wansbeck side a free week to prepare for their massive fourth qualifying round tie in the Emirates FA Cup against Kings Lynn on Saturday in Norfolk.

Skinner was quick to praise both parties: “It’s nice that a fellow member club of the Northern League has been kind enough to reschedule their fixture list in order to help us out and it’s also nice that the ENL have agreed to it – given that we are the last representatives of the league in the FA Cup competition. It’s a great gesture and one which we welcome and we thank them for because there would have been nothing worse than having to play that game on Wednesday. Heaton Stannington could rightly have said that they wanted the clash to go ahead knowing that we wouldn’t really want to try and risk too many players or pick up any injuries.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

There was double delight for Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner on Saturday. The boss saw his side follow up their cup upset win over Stocksbridge Park Steels in midweek with a hard fought 2-1 victory in their Ebac Northern League encounter against Tow Law.

Skinner then announced after the final whistle that the legendary Robbie Dale – who was his first signing of the summer – had also agreed to join the management team at Woodhorn Lane.

A beaming Skinner said: “Obviously I missed the cup replay win against Stocksbridge through some coaching commitments in Portugal and I asked Robbie (Dale) if he would support the management team following some conversations I had with him that’s been going on for a little while. I then asked Robbie if he’d like to officially step up and be part of the management team and he’s accepted it so as well as having a playing role, Robbie (Dale) will also be part of my team moving forward. We’ll finalise all the roles and responsibilities over the next few days now that I’m back but when you’ve got somebody of Robbie’s experience after what he has achieved in the game and where his understanding of the game is brilliant, it’s another pair of eyes and hands which can help me out. I’m delighted that he is going to be part of the set up and he can share some of his experience and some of his thoughts with the players and he’ll be another fantastic addition.”

Dale said: “Ian (Skinner) asked me before the replay against Stocksbridge on Tuesday if I would help out. He spoke to me a little bit about it in the summer but I didn’t really want to do it – but I agreed (to do it) for the replay and give the lads a hand. I enjoyed it; we got a good result and everything went well. On Friday night I got a phone call from Ian (Skinner). He wanted me back on the sidelines for the game on Saturday and that’s what I think he wants going forward as well so we’ll see how it goes.”

Newcastle-born Dale continued: “I’m happy to do it. I’m injured at the moment, so it keeps me occupied as well. I played in the game at Stocksbridge and its put me back a few weeks. Down at Stocksbridge we were short of a couple of players and I took the risk knowing that I would probably be out for a few more weeks.”

Reflecting on the 3-0 win over Stocksbridge, Dale said: “I know it was record attendance for the ground but to get over 1400 people through the doors on Tuesday evening was unbelievable. Any night you get that many fans behind you, you should beat the team you are playing and when we started like we did, the crowd are only going to get louder. We got those two early goals and I thought we had more than enough quality to beat them (Stocksbridge). It was a great result.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was clearly chuffed after his side returned to league duty against Tow Law at a windswept Woodhorn Lane on Saturday and ground out a 2-1 win.

The Colliers – a goal behind when Andrei-Vasile Ardelean stunned the home supporters as he put the Lawyers ahead – hit back to equalise through Luke Salmon before Ben Harmison clinched the points after scoring with a late penalty.

The fight back and consequent result was just the tonic for Skinner and the whole of the home contingent coming only four days after their pulsating and exhausting 3-0 win in their Emirates FA Cup replay against Stocksbridge Park Steels – and it meant the Colliers kept their unbeaten league record intact.

Skinner said afterwards: “You should always be pleased with a win. Conditions were difficult with a swirling strong wind and a pitch which was a little bit sticky and awkward at times. I thought we started the game quite brightly and moved the ball well but were a little bit passive especially coming down the bank with the wind on our backs. I just thought at times that we could have played forward a bit quicker instead of playing sideways and we fell into the trap where the player on the ball looks up and had lots of people running away from him with nobody really coming short. Midway through the first half, we changed our shape slightly to see if we could get a few more numbers forward and a couple of minutes after doing that we conceded – so I’ll take the blame for that. The messages may not have got on to the relevant people but we certainly got caught giving the ball away then were wide open and one pass has been played through to Ardelean who has finished it really well. Credit to us because we scored a great equaliser after what was a good move. Yannick (Aziakonou) has been really positive and stepped onto the ball before providing a great cross and Luke Salmon has made up a fantastic amount of ground to get to the back post and head it home so I was pleased with that.”

He continued: “Second half I thought we looked much better playing against the wind but sometimes the pleasing thing is that the wind forces you to have to play and takes away that little thought of ‘oh I can play a longer ball here’ and for long periods of the game I thought we dominated possession. Tow Law had one or two little counter attacks where they played direct in behind us and had one or two little moments where a chance could have developed. However, the only real opportunity they had was the one over the top and the centre forward has done well but our ‘keeper Karl Dryden has done well to force him really wide and from an acute angle, Ardelean has hit the outside of the post – other than that we limited them to very little.”

He went on: “We‘ve had a couple of good efforts where their ‘keeper (Thomas Orton) has made a brilliant save from Ben Sampson and a good save from Ben Harmison where he’s turned and hit it. We then got a penalty for handball and Ben (Harmison) has stepped up and scored and we’ve managed to see the game out. If someone had said to me beforehand that we would win 2-1, I would have taken it, so I’m delighted.”